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| Programs to help make Hawai`i less food-dependent on the mainland were chopped from the federal budget yesterday. This taro, beef and papaya was all grown on the Big Island. |
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING for this island went on the chopping block yesterday as the U.S. Senate failed to pass a $1.3 trillion appropriations bill, with a call from Republicans to delete all earmarks. Among the earmarks affecting us locally are:
SIX MILLION DOLLARS to the University of Hawai`i for the Development of High Yield Tropical Feedstocks and Biomass Conversion Technology for Renewable Energy Production, and $6 million for Hawai`i Renewable Energy Development Venture at the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research.
These relate to Ka`u since a biofuels venture, reportedly funded with private money, is planned for thousands of acres between Pahala and Na`alehu, with a refinery to make oil from plants and trees, designed for industrial sites in either Pahala or Na`alehu.
ALSO LOST WAS $250,000 for the Kohala Center’s Food Self-Reliance program. The money, requested by Senator Daniel Inouye, was for equipment purchases to increase economic development opportunities for low and moderate income farmers. The Kohala Center has stated it wants to focus on Ka`u for agricultural sustainability.
MONEY CUT FOR PROJECTS close to home also included $250,000 for partnership between U.H. and the U.S. Geological Survey here at Hawai`i Volcano; $500,000 for Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Programs through the National Park Service; $2 million for Hawai`i endangered bird species recovery; $1 million for Hawai`i invasive species partnerships; $2.7 million for animal and plant health inspection; and $2.6 million for an agricultural pest facility.
HAWAI`I-DESIGNATED money cut from the federal budget included $2 million dollars for Saddle Road Improvements proposed by Representative Mazie Hirono, money to improve federal highways on the island, new weather cameras for the Federal Aviation Administration, $1.6 million for the new pharmacy school at UH-Hilo, $350,000 for U.H. Hilo Nursing School to expand training for rural nursing, $100,000 for another UH–Hilo program for occupational safety and health research, sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also being cut is $400,000 for Hawai`i Community College programs to promote Native Hawaiian and other secondary education programs, $300,000 for technology for rural schools, and $300,000 for educational programs for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Also, $500,000 for well monitoring around the state was cut.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS for projects to protect coral reefs and manage seafood in Hawai`i went on the chopping block.
MONEY DELETED from the federal budget also included funds for the Hawai`i County Police Department and the YWCA, $2.5 million for `Imiloa Astronomy Center, $284,000 for Hilo Harbor Modifications, $5 million for a National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at U.H., $587,000 for a General Flood Control Plan Update for Hawai`i and Pacific Territories and $300,000 for Hurricane Evacuation Studies.
Since the massive bill helps fund the federal government itself, the Senate is expected to come up with a continuing resolution to fund the basics of government while it finalizes the budget. Whether any of the money for local projects will be approved is yet to be seen.
Ocean View Community Association holds its annual Keiki Christmas Party tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033.
SIX MILLION DOLLARS to the University of Hawai`i for the Development of High Yield Tropical Feedstocks and Biomass Conversion Technology for Renewable Energy Production, and $6 million for Hawai`i Renewable Energy Development Venture at the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research.
These relate to Ka`u since a biofuels venture, reportedly funded with private money, is planned for thousands of acres between Pahala and Na`alehu, with a refinery to make oil from plants and trees, designed for industrial sites in either Pahala or Na`alehu.
ALSO LOST WAS $250,000 for the Kohala Center’s Food Self-Reliance program. The money, requested by Senator Daniel Inouye, was for equipment purchases to increase economic development opportunities for low and moderate income farmers. The Kohala Center has stated it wants to focus on Ka`u for agricultural sustainability.
MONEY CUT FOR PROJECTS close to home also included $250,000 for partnership between U.H. and the U.S. Geological Survey here at Hawai`i Volcano; $500,000 for Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Programs through the National Park Service; $2 million for Hawai`i endangered bird species recovery; $1 million for Hawai`i invasive species partnerships; $2.7 million for animal and plant health inspection; and $2.6 million for an agricultural pest facility.
HAWAI`I-DESIGNATED money cut from the federal budget included $2 million dollars for Saddle Road Improvements proposed by Representative Mazie Hirono, money to improve federal highways on the island, new weather cameras for the Federal Aviation Administration, $1.6 million for the new pharmacy school at UH-Hilo, $350,000 for U.H. Hilo Nursing School to expand training for rural nursing, $100,000 for another UH–Hilo program for occupational safety and health research, sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also being cut is $400,000 for Hawai`i Community College programs to promote Native Hawaiian and other secondary education programs, $300,000 for technology for rural schools, and $300,000 for educational programs for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Also, $500,000 for well monitoring around the state was cut.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS for projects to protect coral reefs and manage seafood in Hawai`i went on the chopping block.
MONEY DELETED from the federal budget also included funds for the Hawai`i County Police Department and the YWCA, $2.5 million for `Imiloa Astronomy Center, $284,000 for Hilo Harbor Modifications, $5 million for a National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at U.H., $587,000 for a General Flood Control Plan Update for Hawai`i and Pacific Territories and $300,000 for Hurricane Evacuation Studies.
Since the massive bill helps fund the federal government itself, the Senate is expected to come up with a continuing resolution to fund the basics of government while it finalizes the budget. Whether any of the money for local projects will be approved is yet to be seen.
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| Mazie Hirono |
OVER IN THE HOUSE of Representatives, Mazie Hirono voted against the compromise tax bill worked out between President Barack Obama, Republicans and some Democrats. She said “Hawai`i needs jobs. This bill does not create jobs, and it adds to our country’s deficit. What kind of compromise is that? I voted no because it doesn’t provide a fair deal to the middle class and the unemployed. It does, however, provide generous tax cuts to the wealthiest families, and it raids Social Security to provide a payroll tax holiday. We needed to fight for a better deal,” said the Congresswoman.
Ocean View Community Association holds its annual Keiki Christmas Party tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033.
